Ankle Ailments

Ankle joint helps to balance and stabilize the body. But it is also the most frequently injured joint in the body. It’s made up of bones that are supported with muscles and ligaments. Any damage to these structures can cause ankle ailments.

Causes of Ankle Ailments

Ankle disorders can occur due to variety of reasons including:

Forceful running, jumping etc.

Overuse of the joint may cause excessive wear and tear of the joint leading to disorders like osteoarthritis

Twisting or rotating the ankle beyond the normal range of motion

Tripping or falling on ankle from height

Landing on the foot with increased force

Lack of muscles conditioning of the leg and foot

Excessive strain on the ankle

Untreated flat feet

Different types of arthritis (inflammation of joints and tissues) like osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, post-traumatic arthritis etc.

Symptoms of Ankle Ailments

The symptoms of ankle ailments depend upon the disorder and its extent (acute or chronic), But in majority of the cases, patient complains of the following problems associated with the ankle joint:

Pain in the ankle joint with or without movement

Severe pain on putting weight on the affected ankle

Inability to put any weight on the ankle

Difficulty in walking

Problems moving the ankle

Swelling of the joint

Stiffness in the joint

Warmth in the joint

Limping

Restricted physical activity

Bruising

Loud popping sounds at the back of the heel

These are just common symptoms but patient may have other symptoms too that should not be ignored as ankle joint is one of the most important joint of our body. So anything that is not normal or is causing discomfort should be discussed with the doctor and treated accordingly.

Diagnosis of Ankle Ailments

The diagnosis of ankle ailments starts with a complete medical history of the patient. It is also required to consider family history of joint pains as some of these disorders run in families. This is followed by thorough physical examination of the joint to find any visible signs and assess its level of activity. In addition to these following diagnostic tests are almost always required to conclude the disorder:

X ray

Bone scan

CAT scan

MRI

Arthroscopy

Biopsy

Treatment of Ankle Ailments

Treatment of ankle problems specifically depends upon the cause and extent of disorder. It is required to first evaluate the damage that has already occurred and simultaneously start the treatment that would prevent further damage. Treatment may include some of the following: